Overview

• Most people born before 22 September 1959 will receive £100–£300, taking the total to about nine million recipients in England and Wales, while HMRC will reclaim the payment from those with taxable income over £35,000.
• Letters detailing amounts will go out in October and November and most payments will be automatic, though first‑time claimants and some pensioners without qualifying benefits must submit a DWP form or apply by phone from 13 October.
• Eligibility depends on circumstances during the qualifying week and some people are excluded, including those outside England and Wales or in hospital or certain care‑home situations; Scotland pays a separate Pension Age Winter Heating Payment and Northern Ireland runs a parallel scheme.
• The Warm Home Discount provides a one‑off £150 credit with widened eligibility to reach over six million households this winter, with suppliers applying the discount automatically and firms such as E.ON publicising support.
• In the Republic of Ireland, Fuel Allowance payments are beginning for 410,000 households at €33 a week for 28 weeks or two instalments of €462 following expanded qualifying rules.